Destination Pornic ! It is a tourist area of 15 municipalities between the coastline of the Côte de Jade and the countryside of Pays-de-Retz.
Around Pornic, the visitor will enjoy Préfailles, La Plaine/mer, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef to the north and La Bernerie-en-Retz, Les Moutiers-en-Retz and Villeneuve-en-Retz to the south. Inland, 8 communes offer a natural heritage allowing beautiful discoveries and multiple activities: Port-Saint-Père Chaumes-en-Retz, Chauvé, Cheix-en-Retz, Rouans, Ste Pazanne, Vue and Saint Hilaire de Chaléons.
Pornic, gateway to the Destination!
A castle overlooking an old port in which pleasure boats are quietly at anchor, all topped by a beautiful blue sky sometimes a little dappled, it is THE typical postcard of Pornic. A stay, a few hours or a few weeks can only enchant you, and you will appreciate the temperate oceanic climate of the city conducive to holidays, its lively streets, its many summer events, its privileged environment that earned him the Blue Flag label.
Pornic is a seaside resort located on the Côte de Jade, in the department of Loire-Atlantique, on the edge of the Bay of Bourgneuf. It is located 50 kilometers south-west of Nantes and is therefore the southernmost port of Brittany.
History of Pornic: Everything begins with the abbey of Sainte-Marie de Pornic, built in the Middle Ages. Then, the walled city is part of the system of Breton strongholds defending the coast. In the fifteenth century, Gilles de Rais gives his castle and land Pornic to the Duke of Brittany, possessions that then pass to the Crown of France. Pornic continues its development, it is the eighteenth century a prosperous port. Its boats go fishing cod to Newfoundland and Canada, and the city also practice the triangular trade. The Revolution hit it hard, the republican city is several times the seat of bloody fighting between blue and white, Republicans and Chouans. In the following century, Pornic recovered quickly and became a city of water and a resort appreciated by the French artistic elite as the middle class of the Loire. Pornic extends and provides stone docks while building sumptuous villas. The arrival of the railway in 1875 confirmed its success. During the Second World War, Pornic lives darker hours: it is part of the pocket of Saint-Nazaire and will be liberated on May 11, 1945.
Destination very Culture: In Pornic, the medieval upper town is worth a visit in itself. The castle can be visited and you can walk along it on a pretty wooden walkway.
After contemplating the boats, continue your walk on the cornice of Gourmalon, which offers a beautiful view of the castle, or take the charming "promenade des Soupirs", the old customs path linking the beach of the castle to that of the Noëveillard. Visit also the site of the tumulus of Mousseaux, extraordinary cairn made of large stone blocks recently restored. If you appreciate this heritage, Chauvé also has several megalithic sites.
If you want to discover the riches of Pornic by letting yourself be carried, the Little Train will comment on the main points of interest of the city.
The Office of Tourism Intercommunal, Pornic office, offers several thematic tours throughout the year. Our guides, passionate about the destination, will share with you their favorites.
From the Faïencerie de Pornic, you will undoubtedly leave with the famous bowl "à oreillettes" marked with your first name, a must since 1950. You can also learn to paint on porcelain.
Artists' workshops open to the public (Préfailles, Pornic, Les Moutiers-en-Retz, Saint Michel-Chef-Chef), temporary and permanent exhibitions inside and outside all year, Destination Pornic conceals many cultural places where painting, metal, glass, leather are worked ....
With the family, discover the Grand Bazar 1900 of Préfailles, a shop that is over a century old, and its exhibition of old kites... in passing a large display of sweets from yesterday and today!
Destination Gourmande: With its Breton origins, the restaurants of the destination offer wheat pancakes and buckwheat cakes, Breton palets and kouign amann that delight all gourmets. The menus also feature seafood platters, fish and also products from the nearby Nantes region: elvers, eels and Curé nantais, a local cheese! Oyster lovers will not fail to taste the oysters from the Bay of Bourgneuf. You can wash down these various delights with one of the four AOC white wines from the Nantes vineyards: "Muscadet", "Sèvre-et-Maine", "Coteaux-de-la-Loire", or "Côtes-de-Grand-Lieu", unless you prefer a rustic gros-plant or even a local craft beer, such as the Brigantine from Pornic. A touch of salt from the Millac salt mines (Moutiers-en-Retz) in your dishes and your taste buds will be thrilled...
A visit to the Fraiseraie is a must for all gourmets. The strawberry is available in many ways, for all tastes: syrup, cocktail, jam or sorbet.
Finally, gourmet friends and gourmets, do not forget the traditional markets, night markets and local markets or organic Destination Pornic!
Destination very Iodine: Swimming is obviously the most accessible leisure, on the thirty beaches of the Destination or in the pool: those who dream of a Breton water at 33 ° C know that it is possible here in one of the pools of the thalassotherapy center of Pornic, open to all! All water sports are practiced: windsurfing, sailing, kite surfing, sand yachting, sea kayaking, jet skiing, towed buoys in our various water sports clubs and schools. You prefer to be carried on the waves? Embark in Pornic on the legendary sailing boat Corsaires de Retz or enjoy a guided tour along the coast on the Evasion III.
Very active destination: sport is your credo, even on holiday? Then... head for the Aquacentre de Pornic and its sports pool or push the door of the Orange bleue. You can also get advice from Annie, a specialised personal trainer.
Want to go outside? Go fast at the go-karting of Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, go high at the accrobranche of Pornic, jump in the air on the ascending trampoline of the Ria in Pornic (in summer). Share the magic of the green at the golf course of Pornic or rent the tennis courts of La Bernerie-en-Retz and Pornic. And for the adventurous, Planète Sauvage allows you to discover more than 1000 animals in Port-Saint-Père!
Destination Wellness: rest, time for oneself, relaxation, haaaa the holidays! The thalassotherapy of Pornic awaits you for an à la carte or packaged program. Possibility of a stay with accommodation and catering on site. For total relaxation, spas and beauty salons will delight those who want to let go. And if well-being can rhyme with activity, then the longe-côte at Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef is for you.
Destination very Nature: The green life attracts you? Again and again Destination Pornic! Take advantage of the twenty or so hiking trails to discover the coast by the GR 8 (customs path along the Côte de Jade) and the hinterland on foot, by bike and on horseback. The canals of the marshes and rivers of our countryside will offer you beautiful landscapes and beautiful walks. Picnic near the swans and the avocets of the marshes, the storks of Vue or the herons on the banks of the Acheneau in Rouans and Cheix-en-Retz.
In Moutiers-en-Retz (Centre Hippique de la Mer), in Pornic (Huchepie) and in Chauvé (Espace Equestre du Pays de Retz), horses are your companions for a day.
For fresh air, do not miss Pointe Saint-Gildas (Préfailles) classified as a regional nature reserve and visit its semaphore, stroll through the botanical garden of the Ria de Pornic, cross the Breton marshes at Moutiers-en-Retz and take a walk to the charming port of Collet. Admire the setting sun at Terres Rouges in Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef.
Families will be delighted by visits to the Jardins de l'Auberge La Fontaine aux Bretons (Pornic) or the Puillière educational farm (Port-Saint-Père).
Very trendy destination: Punctuate your discoveries with festive and lively breaks. Casino, beach bars, rum bars, concert cafés, tapas bars... There is something for everyone! Fancy a movie? Several cinemas offer current films and also a festival or children's film-snacks!
To take full advantage of all the activities of Destination Pornic, www.pornic.com or 02 40 82 04 40
Reservation Centre 02 40 82 67 67
Tickets at preferential rates in our various Tourist Information Offices.
A bientôt.
L'Office de Tourisme Intercommunal de Pornic est disponible place de la Gare (Pornic) tous les jours et toute l'année (fermeture le 25/12 et le 01/01) pour partager ses bons plans et adresses utiles sur la Destination Pornic !
Découvrez également nos conseillers en séjour et les services et billetteries de nos 5 autres bureaux : Saint Michel-Chef-Chef, La Plaine/mer, Préfailles, La Bernerie-en-Retz et Les Moutiers-en-Retz.
Destination Pornic, c'est au total 14 communes pour profitez de vos vacances et faire de belles découvertes en milieu littoral et rural www.pornic.com
Au plaisir de vous retrouver !